Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Be Who You Are No Matter What

By Megan H.

Have you ever thought: "Oh wow! Those kids are so cool!" or "I would
give anything to sit with the cool kids"? Have you ever been made fun of
for acting differently, dressing differently, or for your beliefs? Do
you consider yourself weird and awkward when you're around normal
people?
Do you try to change the way you act when around people to seem more
cool? I'll tell you something; you can't change who you are. Instead of
trying to change who you to please others, why not try to be a witness
to others? Let your light shine....

"Ye are the salt of the earth: But if the salt have lost his flavor,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to
be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of
the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men
light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it
giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

Don't try to hide who you are. Don't try to hide the fact that you are a
Christian just so people won't treat you differently or make fun of
you.

"For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the
son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his
Father's, and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26

Don't let people influence you or try to change who you are.

"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." Proverbs 1:10

Any friend who tries to change you or tells you things to try to get you
to change, really isn't a friend at all. A true friend accepts you for
who you are. And if they try to change you or get you to do things that
you know deep down aren't right, just remember these verses...

"And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit,
joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in
Christ. As ye have there received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in
him: Rooted and built up in him, an established in the faith, as ye have
been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." Colossians 2:4-7

Also a sure way to avoid that from happening is to just not hang around
those types of people. Not to change the subject, but, people will
always treat you differently when you follow Christ.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile
you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you
falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is
your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were
before you." Matthew 5:10-12

Look at the prophets and disciples;many were beaten, imprisoned, and killed.I often think of Stephen and what all he endured.

"And they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses
laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was
Saul(who,if you remember, became Paul, the apostle). And they stoned
Stephen, calling upon God, and saying Lord Jesus, Receive my spirit. And
he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to
their charge. and when he said this, he fell asleep." Acts 7:58-60

Even in all that pain he was going through, he still forgave them. Even
no there are men, woman, and children who a beaten and imprisoned; and
in some instances they are even killed. One day all Christians will be
persecuted. many things will happen as the end of the world draws near;
that being one of them.

"Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall be kill
you:and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Matthew
24:9

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" Mark 13:13

What ever the persecution, by friends, enemies, the government, etc.
never deny who you really are or that you are a Christian. Don't know
about you but I'd rather be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (Daniel
3) than Peter when he denied Christ (Mark 14:66-72)

"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God
unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek." Romans 1:16